MY TOP 1000 SONGS FROM THE 1970'S

[smokeyb]

15


Pretenders - Brass In Pocket


Released in late 1979, it actually peaked at #1 in Jan 1980, but still made my countdown, I am a huge fan of Chrissie Hynde and own all

their albums.

[smokeyb]

14


Blondie - Sunday Girl


Probably mentioned it before, but Blondie could do no wrong for me, I bought every single record they released, this one made

number 1 in 1979.

[smokeyb]

13


Roxy Music - Dance Away


This is such a brilliant song from their album "Manifesto", it reached #2 in 1979, kept of the top by my song at number 14 Blondie.

[smokeyb]

12


Blondie - Picture This


Debbie Harry again, with this song from 1978, it peaked at #12, what a fantastic song from Blondie.

[smokeyb]

11


10CC - Dreadlock Holiday


10cc were a band I liked from the first time I heard them in 1972, got all their albums, this was their 3rd and final number 1 from 1978.

I was on holiday in Tenerife when this was at the top of the charts, great memories.

[rubcale]

Agree on Blondie although Sunday girl for me one of their weaker tracks.

Dance Away Roxy's best.

[Earl Purple]

Is there something that just can't separate Sunday Girl and Dance Away?

[smokeyb]

10


Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love


This song reached #2 in 1979, held of the top spot by Dr Hook. This was the first single taken from their album "The Game" their only #1 album in the USA, this was one of only 2 number 1 singles in the USA as well.

For me as a huge Queen fan I just liked how their sound developed from album to album.

[smokeyb]

9


Marmalade - Reflections Of My Life


I really liked Marmalade in the 60's, but for me this is their best song by some distance. Every time I listen to this it makes me reflect on my life. It's probably the song that will be played when I leave this planet.

It spent 3 weeks at number 3 behind Edison Lighthouse & Rolf Harris in 1970.

[smokeyb]

8


Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile(Come Up And see Me)


I have always liked Steve Harley's singing voice (to some an acquired taste), this was actually #1 in 1975 when I had my first driving lesson, so has a special memory for me, plus it's just a great song.

[smokeyb]

7


Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone


A #5 song from 1978, this was on their album "Parallel Lines" which I bought on release, still have it today. Although this is a cover of a Nerves
song, they just make it their's. Just love the vocal's on this.

[smokeyb]

6


10CC - I'm Not In Love


Their second #1 off three, this one peaked in the summer of 1975 just when I finished high school, so that makes it unforgettable for that reason alone.

But is also a brilliantly crafted pop song.

[smokeyb]

5


David Bowie - Heroes


This only reached #24 in 1977, but to me it stands as one of his best. Written by Bowie & Brian Eno from the album of the same name.

Composed during his Berlin period, this track usually appears in lists of the best songs ever.

[smokeyb]

4


Blondie - Heart Of Glass


Just missing out on a top 3 spot, this song reached #1 in 1979. Released at the peak of the disco era in 1979,the Mike Chapman produced version

is a lot different the original version of the song. I remember at the time they were accused of selling out, as they were part of the new wave music scene.

In the end it was #1 for 4 weeks, their first of six chart toppers.

[smokeyb]

3


Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky


What can I say about this song, to me it is everything that ELO are about, it is just a big record from the first note to the very last note.

It reached #6 in 1978 taken from the double album "Out Of The Blue".

[smokeyb]

2


Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody


I know this song is sometimes accused of being overplayed, but from my point of view when I first heard it I went "wow".

I remember hearing it on the radio at the beginning on November 1975, and it just sounded like nothing you had heard before, I suppose it

helped that I was already a fan of their's having bought the previous album, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the new one "A Night At The Opera" although I had to wait until

late November when it was released. I still love it today, and it was a close call between this song and my number one song.

The promo video was just amazing in 1975, they made it to save them appearing on TOTP each week it was number one.

[smokeyb]

1


David Bowie - Life on Mars?


For me it had to be this track, as it just sums up what his music meant to me throughout the 70's. It reached #3 in 1973.

The song first appeared on his "Hunky Dory" album in 1971. Great piano by Rick Wakeman on the track. It also had one of the first promo videos.

It was in the charts during the school holidays in 1973, and I used to play it and play it, to me a justified number one, who else could it be

from a Bowie fan. His music got me through difficult times during the decade and beyond. David you are sadly missed.

[smokeyb]

Summary of songs by year:


1970 62

1971 57

1972 96

1973 99

1974 81

1975 93

1976 101

1977 115

1978 129

1979 167

        1000


This shows that my favourite songs of the decade were certainly weighted towards the end of the 70's, for me 1978 to 1983 was the best time for the music I loved, and this sorts of bears it out.

A breakdown of the top 100 songs shows this more clearly, 60% of my songs from the last 2 years:

1970 4
1971 4

1972 6

1973 2

1974 3

1975 9

1976 6

1977 6

1978 17

1979 43

        100


It is a little surprising that my top song is from 1973 which only had 2 titles in the top 100.

[Razzle Dazzle]

Great read, cheers for this smokeyb, we share 4 of the same top 10

[smokeyb]

Jun 11, 2019 22:05:41 GMT 1 Razzle Dazzle said:

Great read, cheers for this smokeyb, we share 4 of the same top 10

It only took 2 years to compile and 1 year to count it down, but it was enjoyable.